09/21/2026
Our founder, Charlie Powers!
Charlie Powers is a powerful force in God’s hands.
For the past 10 years, Charlie has been discipling men in the Changed Life Recovery Program (CLRP), investing his time, wisdom, and life experience in men working to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.
When Charlie teaches, he owns the room. He walks among the men, asks questions, listens carefully, and draws them into the conversation. He may arrive with pages of notes, but he often gets through a page or less. That’s because Charlie believes listening is just as important as teaching.
When his lessons are interactive, the men are more likely to remember what they learn—and, more importantly, to take ownership of the biblical truths they discover for themselves.
“I share God with the men and learn from them as well. God uses this ministry to change me, and I build long-lasting relationships with the men.”
Charlie might seem like an unlikely candidate for such an impactful teaching ministry. Before volunteering at the Mission, he had very little teaching experience. He had never struggled with chemical addiction and knew very little about Frederick Rescue Mission.
But Charlie knew God and human nature. “I understand people,” he says. “I’m also forthright—I’ll gently tell you the hard stuff.” That combination of compassion, honesty, and a willingness to listen has made Charlie a trusted mentor to countless men over the years.
Now 75, Charlie shows no sign of slowing down. Although he has retired from the business he founded, Frederick Fence Co., he still exercises for an hour and a half each day and continues to spend his time pouring into the Mission’s residents.
Charlie’s life is a powerful reminder to the men in the CLRP that God can use anyone willing to serve—and that their most fruitful days may still be ahead of them.
